An Ada Area Composers Concert on Thursday [JAN. 24] will include several premiere performances of original compositions by East Central University faculty, students and friends. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Ada Arts and Heritage Center, 14th and Rennie.

Dr. Tom Cowger, professor of history at East Central University, will discuss the life and accomplishments of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at 8 p.m. Thursday [JAN.24] in the Estep Multimedia Center in the University Center.

Cowger's presentation, "The Dream Endures: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement," is sponsored by the CREW, ECU's student programming board, in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 21.

John Wiscaver, director of catastrophe response for State Farm Insurance, will discuss "Insurance: Dealing with Disasters, Death and Deception" at the Parker Ethics Lecture Thursday [JAN. 24] at East Central University. He will speak at 6:30 p.m. in the Estep Multimedia Center in the University Center.

Wiscaver has subtitled his presentation "Real life stories involving ethics and emotion" and will cite real-world examples from his career in the insurance industry.

Whitney Harbour organized her first political campaign in 1996 for presidential candidate Bob Dole. Of course, she was only in the 4th grade at the time, but that may explain why she's now a political science major at East Central University who one day wants to run for the Legislature and later serve in the U.S. Senate.

"My family was always talking about politics," she recalled. "That was very influential for me."

Vision Bank of Ada has donated $125,000 to the East Central University Foundation Inc. to establish the Vision Bank Endowed Professorship in Banking and Finance.

The gift will be matched by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for a total endowment of $250,000. Interest income from the endowment will be used to help attract and retain an outstanding business professor whose teaching specialty is in the area of banking and finance.

The Center of Continuing Education and Community Services at East Central University will offer Workplace Spanish for Law Enforcement and 9-1-1 dispatchers starting Feb. 5 [TUESDAY]. The cost is $100 per person. If four or more enroll from the same department or agency, the cost will be $75 per person. The class will meet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays through March 11 For more information, contact Jannason Long at 580-559-5632.

The Center of Continuing Education and Community Services at East Central University will offer Workplace Spanish for Bankers starting Feb. 7 [THURSDAY]. The cost is $100 per person. If four or more enroll from the same company, the cost will be $75 per person. The class will meet on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. through March 13. Prior knowledge of Spanish is not necessary. For more information, contact Jannason Long at 580-559-5632.

East Central University's mission is to foster a learning environment in which students, faculty, staff, and communityinteract to educate students for life in a rapidly changing and culturally diverse society. Within its service area,East Central University provides leadership for economic development and cultural enhancement.